With leaders from five continents on hand, Venezuela prepared for a day of distinctly different ceremonies — first the formal state funeral of Hugo Chavez, then the controversial swearing in of his anointed interim successor, who the opposition charges has no constitutional right to the job.
Friday’s funeral promises to be a final turn on the world stage for Chavez after 14 tumultuous years in power, though in some ways the polarizing former paratrooper is not going anywhere: Venezuela announced Thursday that it would embalm his body and put it on permanent display.
Hours before the ceremony was to start, basic details were still unknown, even where it would be held. The most likely setting was a military academy where Chavez’s body has lain in state since Wednesday. Since then, Venezuelans in their hundreds of thousands have filed past Chavez’s glass-covered casket in a round-the-clock marathon of tears, prayers and military salutes.
The last of what the Venezuelan government says are more than 30 heads of state arrived for the funeral early Friday. Iranian President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad touched down after 1 a.m. and Chilean President Sebastian Pinera landed around dawn. U.S. Rep. Gregory Meeks, a New York Democrat, and former Rep. William Delahunt, a Democrat from Massachusetts, represented the United States, which Chavez often portrayed as a great global evil even as he sent the country billions of dollars in oil each year.
The normally traffic-choked streets of Caracas were empty early Friday with schools and many businesses shuttered. The government also prohibited alcohol sales. Many Venezuelans, particularly Chavez supporters, said they were caught up in the pomp and circumstance of the past few days, and flattered to be in the world’s attention.
“This is historic …I have never seen anything like it,” said Edila Ojeda, a 57-year-old janitor. “He was a world leader recognized internationally. I am speechless. It is impressive.”
Others said they were put off by what they saw as excess, particularly the plan to put Chavez’s body on permanent display.
“He was a president, and I would say not a good one. Not a hero,” said Gloria Ocampos, a retired office manager. “He should be buried, just like any other president. They are treating him like he was the father of the country … It’s crazy.”
Following the funeral, National Assembly Speaker Diosdado Cabello was to swear in Vice President Nicolas Maduro as interim president, as Chavez desired, despite complaints by the opposition that Cabello is the rightful holder of that post under the constitution.
Cabello announced that the swearing in will be held at the same military academy complex where Chavez’s body is lying in state. Normally, presidents in Venezuela are sworn in at the National Assembly.
The constitution says elections must be held within 30 days of Chavez’s Mar. 5 death, though the government has not set a date. Maduro has announced he will be the candidate of Chavez’s ruling socialist party against likely opposition candidate Henrique Capriles, and many expect him to ride the wave of emotion following Chavez’s death to victory.
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Source: FULL ARTICLE at Fox World News